posted on August 27, 2003 11:32:46 AM new
oh yea, and where is the money going to come from, and what about looking after your own backyard first before you out and fix someone else's backyard, this makes a lot of sense...NOT.....thank you Mr President for this mess, we know it's about oil and your buddies companies that are going to prosper from all this while the rest of the nation is going to suffer even more, thank you mr president,
Iraq 'needs tens of billions'
America's administrator in Iraq has warned that the country will need tens of billions of dollars to rebuild its shattered infrastructure.
Paul Bremer said it was "almost impossible to exaggerate" the country's economic needs.
The bill to overhaul essential services like electricity and water - running intermittently in many areas at present - would reach almost $30bn, Mr Bremer said.
The economic bill comes on top of the estimated one billion dollars per week the US already spends on its forces in Iraq as well as a spiralling budget deficit at home.
President Bush pledged "no retreat" in Iraq in a speech to US military veterans on Tuesday which was seized upon by political opponents as "empty rhetoric".
The president said American-led forces were making good progress in restoring order to the country and insisted Iraq was part of the wider US-led war on terror.
On Tuesday, the number of American deaths since the end of major combat operations on 1 May surpassed the number killed during the war - 139 compared to 138.
The situation in Iraq is fast becoming an issue for next year's presidential election, the BBC's Justin Webb reports from Washington.
One Democratic Party presidential hopeful, Bob Graham, described Mr Bush's speech as "the same old sugar-coating of a very bad situation" whilst another, Dick Gephardt, said it was incomprehensible that more was not being done to get other nations to share the burden.
'Billions for clean water'
Mr Bremer said in an interview for the Washington Post that it would take $2bn to restore the Iraqi national electricity grid by next summer and about $13bn over five years to overhaul it completely.
Supplying clean water nationwide would cost an additional $16bn over four years.
The US administrator said the money would be sought from both the US and foreign governments, of whom 45 had already "pledged money to the reconstruction".
Revenue from oil - Iraq's traditional main export - was still low, Mr Bremer acknowledged, but the push was on to open up Iraq to foreign investment.
The US administrator insisted that, despite the costs, progress in Iraq was "absolutely achievable".
"I keep reading stories about it's a country in chaos," said Mr Bremer.
"This is simply not true. It is not a country in chaos and Baghdad is not a city in chaos."
'Substantial' cost
Attacks on coalition forces have continued since the ousting of Saddam Hussein's regime in April but Mr Bremer played down their significance.
ESTIMATED REBUILDING COSTS
Iraqi women receive water from a tanker
Utilities: $10-15bn just for electricity and telecoms
Oil and gas industry: $35-40bn
Heathcare: $10-20bn
Education: $6-12bn
Source: McKinsey
Iraq rebuilding 'could cost $90bn'
"They pose no strategic threat to the US or to the coalition forces and they do not represent a major effort by the Iraqi population against the coalition."
In his speech to US military veterans in St Louis on Tuesday, President George W Bush said the cost of rebuilding Iraq would be "substantial", but gave no details.
The spiralling cost of involvement in Iraq will put the US in the red by almost half a trillion dollars next year, according to a non-partisan government report this week.
The Congressional Budget Office figures mark a new record in dollar terms and suggest a near-$1.4 trillion deficit in the 10 years to 2013 where a surplus of $891bn had been previously foreseen
posted on August 27, 2003 11:46:49 AM new
You really should move before the Apocalypse falls. I have a nice little bit of land in the Bahamas I'd make a deal with you on. It doesn't have electricity available yet and there is that occasional rainstorm but still you would be much better off there then the misery you seem to be suffering in this awful place.
posted on August 27, 2003 12:02:54 PM new
I am such a darn facist nazi bastard ! I can't believe the crap I post here. All this top notch research sky does for us peons and this is all I can offer !! oh the Humanity of it all, a horse a horse my kingdom for a horse . I say we build a large wall around the US move all our forces to the homeland a screw everybody else. No one gets in and no one gets out !
posted on August 27, 2003 12:05:52 PM newSt. PAUL, Minn. - President Bush (news - web sites) pledged Tuesday that the United States will not relent in its war against terrorism, even as U.S. casualties mount and political criticism spreads.
posted on August 27, 2003 12:06:32 PM new
Sky needs to spend more time searching for funds for the exploratory surgery to find his brain via his home planet of uranus.
"Whenever the nation is under attack, from within or without, liberals side with the enemy. This is their essence." --Ann Coulter
posted on August 27, 2003 12:15:13 PM new
Where does the money go? From the taxpayers to the purveyors, the civilian contractors, the industries who specialize in the sale of the materials of war. It does not benefit the Iraqi people, the American people or the average American. It supports the further militarization of our society and deprives us of our freedoms.
posted on August 27, 2003 12:19:01 PM new
Did Ann Coulter really say that Bear??? What an airhead! I've yet to see any liberals side with any enemies. That's funny!
posted on August 27, 2003 12:21:29 PM newIt does not benefit the Iraqi people, the American people or the average American. It supports the further militarization of our society and deprives us of our freedoms.
Just as the US did after WWII. Look at Japan and Germany. Great success...all that money we poured into rebuilding their countries and economies.
This is going to take the some time, patience and money being spent to do the same thing in Iraq.
posted on August 27, 2003 12:31:46 PM new
This is not the end of WW2. The circumstance is entirely different. What this is is a lose lose situation. If you wish to send your money that's your business. I believe the war should be privatized, people who then feel that it is worth fighting can donate through their favorite charity. The true faithful may send their offspring to participate or may wish to volunteer themselves. I'll keep an eye on the home front while you're away.
Friends don't let friends vote Republican!
posted on August 27, 2003 12:33:39 PM new
Every day more and more American feel the way I do.... this is why he will be unemployed come 2004
Friends don't let friends vote Republican!
posted on August 27, 2003 12:38:56 PM newI believe the war should be privatized, people who then feel that it is worth fighting can donate through their favorite charity.
Well..I believe that all those who wish to give other peoples hard earned money away to those who aren't 'equal' should be the ONLY ones required to do so too.
I believe those who are anti-war should form a nation of their own so they don't have to contribute to the expense of maintaining a strong military. [that you complain about] Let them talk to the terrorists, NK or anyone else for that matter. They always have all the answers, so they should do real well 'working' things out with all their enemies. BY THEMSELVES.
posted on August 27, 2003 12:56:43 PM new
Those who oppose the direction taken by the current administration are in the process of forming that nation. It's called an election and at it's conclusion feel free to pack your bags and your reactionary ways and leave.
posted on August 27, 2003 01:05:00 PM new
Wow! That's the cost in addition to the 4 billion monthly cost.!
Iraq will need "several tens of billions" of dollars from abroad in the next year to rebuild its rickety infrastructure and revive its moribund economy, and American taxpayers and foreign governments will be asked to contribute substantial sums, U.S. occupation coordinator L. Paul Bremer said yesterday.
Bremer said Iraqi revenue will not nearly cover the bill for economic needs "almost impossible to exaggerate." Just to meet current electrical demand will cost $2 billion, Bremer said, while a national system to deliver clean water will cost an estimated $16 billion over four years.
The figures, which must be added to the $4 billion the Pentagon spends each month on military operations in Iraq, offer the latest evidence that the price of the Iraqi occupation is growing substantially. A State Department official said the Bush administration is preparing to seek a "huge" supplemental spending bill from Congress. Administration sources also said the U.S.-controlled Coalition Provisional Authority is running so low on funds that the White House is considering seeking an emergency infusion next month to cover the organization's bills.
posted on August 27, 2003 01:05:21 PM new
That's a great idea Linda. We should take all of the anti-war people who object to a strong military and let them form their own country. There's lots of land in Iraq, we can divide off a portion of Iraq for this new nation. Of course they will not be allowed to have a military and firearms will be banned.
posted on August 27, 2003 01:12:54 PM new
dave - No one guarantee who's going to be president in 2004. My money's on Bush. I'm betting it's more important to American's to have a strong leader who sticks to his guns....doesn't change his mind with each new poll that comes out....than the fact that our economy is faltering. I do not believe the country is looking for a 60's Peace president.
Most people can look at the 'whole' picture and see it started before Bush came into office. Both the terrorism threat AND the sliding economy. Most people can see 9-11 had even further devastating affects. And most people aren't going to elected a anti-war president....no matter what's happening with the economy. If we don't have a strong president to continue the war on terrorism, it won't be long before we have no country. A few more attacks like 9-11 would really devastate our country...in many ways...but mostly economically.
IF the democrats don't come up with a leader who is willing to protect this country and continue the war on terrorism....they won't be seeing their party in the White House for many, many years to come.
posted on August 27, 2003 01:17:09 PM new
Arafat may soon be unemployed, perhaps he should run. Surely we can work around that citezenship problem, just pass a quick amendment and all will be well
posted on August 27, 2003 01:20:25 PM new
ebayauctionguy - Well....like I said....we all have our dreams
----------------
And they can take all those who don't want to earn their own way with them. They can support them and they can continue to raise their own taxes until they just hand over their entire paycheck to them.
Then they will all be equal.
The Republicans will take those who need a temporary help hand. One's who need help until they can get on their feet themselves...not the lifetime 'takers'.
posted on August 27, 2003 01:23:00 PM new
How Clinton should have handled it:
President Clinton visits Saddam Hussein to talk about the UNSCOM
inspections in Iraq. As he sits down he sees three buttons in the
armrest of Saddam's chair. When Saddam sits down, Clinton
immediately asks, "Why the three buttons in your armrest?"
"You'll see," says Saddam.
After 10 minutes Saddam presses the first button, and WHACK a
boxing glove hits Clinton in the face. Clinton grabs his nose,
while Saddam just laughs.
Clinton manages to remain calm until, after another 10 minutes,
Saddam presses the second button, and another boxing glove hits
Clinton in the stomach. While Clinton is gasping for air, Saddam
falls out of his chair from laughing.
Clinton is highly annoyed by now, but remains outwardly calm.
After another 5 minutes, Saddam presses the third button, and
from under the table another boxing glove hits Clinton, this time
right in the crotch. Clinton is really fed up by it now and
breaks off the talks. "We'll continue this next week in the White
House," says the President.
Saddam, has tears in his eyes from laughing, and can only nod in
agreement.
As agreed, Clinton receives Saddam in the Oval Office a week
later, and as Saddam sits down, he sees three buttons in the
armrest of Clinton's chair.
As the meeting goes on, Saddam sees Clinton press the first
button and immediately ducks, but nothing happens.
This doesn't stop Clinton from laughing really loud. Clinton
continues where he left off, and after a few minutes presses the
second button. Saddam again reacts instinctively, and jumps up to
avoid whatever is coming.
Again absolutely nothing happens, and this time it's Clinton who
falls out of his chair from laughing.
Saddam is totally bewildered, and wonders what the heck is
happening. But no harm has come to him, so he retakes his seat
and the talks continue.
After a few more minutes, Clinton presses the third button. This
time, Saddam doesn't even flinch, but stays in his chair as
though nothing unusual is taking place. Clinton, however, is
rolling on the floor, doubled up from laughter.
Saddam is not only bewildered-- now he is angry. He springs to
his feet and shouts, "I've had enough of this, I'm going back to
Baghdad!"
Through tears of laughter, Clinton says, "Baghdad.... what
Baghdad?"
